Wireless Microphone set up for weddings
 

Where do I buy and what do I need in the way of a wireless microphone system for doing weddings? I have an XL-1 and have been told that I need a clip on wireless mike system that can connect to the XL-1. I have no ancillary equipment for my XL-1 except an extra heavy duty battery and a nice case. I have converted the microphone over to a Light Wave Systems isolated mike holder. It works very well, but obviously I need something in addition for weddings.
Looking forward to all your advice!

Depends on what you want to spend.
 

There are a number of good mic systems out there: Nady, Audio-Technica, Sampson, Sennheiser, etc.

The one I use is a Sennheiser ew112p which sells for about $450. I am very pleased and would love a second one.

The general advice is to stick to UHF units, but they cost 2-3 times as much as VHF units. If you are trying to save dollars get a Nady VHF wireless: they are probably the best buy.

I would try to buy from one of the sponsors here first. The help keep Chris's Watchdog pages open, AND, they seem to know the business.

Nathan Gifford

The reason to go to UHF is because there is less chance of interference on the less crowed waveband.

Make sure though that radio mics are legal in which ever country they might be used.

I use a Sure VHF system. It's pretty good but a few churches I've been to have some of the same fequencies and it's not changeable! I couldn't use it!
I rented a UHF sysyem and it was excellent but a few thousand dollars to buy!

Adam,

Which UHF system did you go with?

I think it was a Lectrosonic UHF Wireless. It cost me $100 can for the day but it sure was worth it! It was like talking into a high quality vocal mic in a studio for singing. The distance on it was quite far and static free. I rented it from a production company here in Vancouver, Canada that used them alot when they made The X-Files here and other TV shows from Vancouver. But I don't think I will ever buy one unless I win some money! ($4000 can. I think!)

Whew! Too pricey for me. But thanks anyway for the info.

Adam...I have an off topic question to ask you concerning an article you wrote. Don't want to mess up this thread, so could you check the XL-1 "General Topics" forum for it?

I use Samson Micro 32's. They cost about $500 each. You can set your frequencies so they don't conflict.

Make sure to check the church's wireless freqs, cause a conflict during a wedding isn't something you want to happen.

Mike

wedding mics
 

The senheisser prosumer gread a preaty darn good. I use the 500 fro about $800-1000 and have had great results. you can change freqs if the is a problem with other wireless mics.
Also think about getting a mini disk recorder for about 200.00 you can use a lav mic on it and put it the grooms pocket and get consant audio for about an hr during the ceremony.

I use a 2-channel Azden with 2 lavalier transmitters so I can mic up 2 talents. Being VHF, it is sometimes susceptible to radio static. A few more projects like this, and I'll be looking to go UHF (lthough I do like the convenience of one receiver for 2 frequencies.)

Hi GG,

Which model of Azden are you using?

I would like to suggest that you look at purchasing the AZDEN WMS PRO it comes with:

1 x Lavalier Lapel mic
1 x Hand held mic
2 x Transmitters
1 x Receiver
2 Interchangable channels picked up on the one cam receiver.... Flawless set up and testing :)

I payed $325 here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. However you will need to buy another Lavalier Lapel Mic but they are only $30 :) So the whole package will cost ya $355 before tax lol. GREAT quality GREAT price.

I bought the Lectrosonic UHF 100 from Locationsound in North Hollywood, CA (1-800-228-4429 ask for Val) for about $1200 with the lavalier mic. Of the 256 channels I get 189 to use, ABC-tv gets the rest. Range is out of this world. I can also use my shotgun and hand mic with astonishing results connected to the transmitter. It was worth every penny. I think they've replaced the 100 with the 195 but they're almost identical in abilities.

HI John, when are you moving to Tokyo?

Here's my Azden setup.

•WR22-PRO receiver on the camera (2-channels).

•2 WM-PRO transmitters, switchable to 2 frequencies. They have lavalier mics plugged into them, or if you want you can substitute anything with a 3.5mm mini plug, be it a headband mic, guitar pickup, whatever.

•1 WX/T-PRO "can" transmitter. This attaches to the bottom of any standard metal-bodied XLR-terminated hand mic, such as a Shure SM58, or a shotgun or similar pro mic. The hand mic is good for field interviews.

•Last but not least, I have a WR2-PRO receiver. It is similar to the other receiver but has just one antenna and the output is a mono plug. I run this into the mic input of my PA mixer for sound reinforcement. It operates on the same 2 frequencies as the other receiver, and this allows each talent to wear just one microphone for both camera and sound system.

The Azdens are very user-friendly and blue-collar priced. Just sometimes I wish I had UHF radios in them, to fight the static.

As a backup, I keep an Audio-Technica Pro22W/T transmitter with lavalier and Pro22W/R receiver with my Elura, which is my "emergency" camera--like when they say "Hey Mike, we need you to shoot an announcement from the CEO right now and post it on the Intranet tonight" and my XL1 is resting comfortably in its Porta Brace on my dining room floor. :-)

Thanks for the detailed info, Mike.

I've been holding off on buying a "good" system since I suspect that as soon as I buy something, Samson or Sennheiser or whoever will announce that they've just released an affordable two transmitter/one receiver UHF system. Kind of like Canon announced the release of the XL1s immediately after I bought my XL1.

The one thing that's been holding me back on buying VHF has been the static/interference that everyone says is a danger with VHF...but I wonder just how often that really happens? If it's once in a blue moon...well then what the heck.

Can't understand why manufacturers haven't produced a UHF two transmitter system. What's up with that?

I've been getting by up to now with a very cheap (but I should add "very dependable") Nady wireless system. About 99% of my shooting is done in a controlled indoor environment. So, for that reason I've never experienced any interference.

<<...when are you moving to Tokyo?>>

I'm going over in about a couple of weeks to scout around for a place to live. Then I'll probably head over the next month...so sometime in May. It'll be a nice change since DV is almost unheard of here in Korea. I was carrying my camera through the subway here awhile back and one of the cameramen from a large local network came over and just about fainted when he saw my fully-rigged XL-1. I let him check it out and his eyes were glazed over...definitely hooked. The funny thing is that he's a professional cameraman but had never even heard of the XL-1. That goes to show that there's not a lot of DV support here...I'm kind of the lone DV ranger (except for Mike Bebber...where are you these days, Mike?).

So, I'm looking forward to getting together with other DVers in Tokyo. Adrian's already recommending a Tokyo DV gathering. Hope a lot of people respond.

Grab your camera and come on over!

"The funny thing is that he's a professional cameraman but had never even heard of the XL-1."

LOL! I brought my XL1 into a local station to dub some of my miniDV footage for them to use in a show, and the show's producer said he had gotten an XL1 GIVEN (!!!!) to him and he didn't even know what it was! And his station uses DVCPRO for ENG work! I told him to grab the thing and go run around and play Steven Soderbergh with it, and to get back to me with his reactions. I think he had thought it was some Hi-8 rig or something!

Oh yes, and some Boston stations gave me some cr@p about how it had to be shot in Beta SP, nevermind how mini DV is 520 lines and SP is 400. To say nothing of if you look at some of the Beta SP boxes some of these indy dudes are sporting, you have to wonder how many billions of hours are on the heads, or if they haven't been cleaned and PM'ed since who knows when.

So I guess not the whole world has gotten behind the XL1 or miniDV. But I'll be dad-gummed if I'm about to invest a dime in a format (beta SP) that Sony has actually discontinued building (according to a Panasonic news release). The rest of the world is just going to have to catch up with us.

Ah, Nady! Yes, I remember using Nadys as a DJ. Some people claimed Samsons were better, but I never thought so. I wonder if that controlled indoor environment includes AC power, cuz I don't recall that receiver being battery-powered. But that was long ago, and I ain't seen everything.

Nady's Are Still Good.
 

I am not sure how long it will be before Sennheiser produces a dual UHF system cheap.

The Evolution 100 system is pretty darn small. The receiver is slightly larger than a pack of cigarettes. A dual receiver would only be twice that size.

Range is very, very good. A dual system, which has the advantage of redundancy. All that for around $900.

I have not used a Nady. However, I have heard plenty of good about them and almost bought one. Plenty of people swear by them, and few swear at them.

One tip I did get was ask the people in the areas where you shoot what they are using. If they are not having problems with VHF in their area, chances are you won't either.

Nathan Gifford

Sounds interesting...
but I'll probably hang in there with my Azdens until I see what Sennheiser comes out with. I really like having the dual receiver in one box.

small transmitter
 

I have a shure transmitter and receiver. Originally, I bought the thing so I could walk freely with my guitar. Does anyone know if theres a smaller transmitter than the size of a cigarette pack? People talk about these lapel mikes, are those basically connected to the cigarette pack or are they also the transmitter? I just got the ma200, basically I got it because I wanted a nice shoulder rest. I have a mackie 14 channel mixing board again originally for my band stuff but now I suppose I could use that, but who would cart all this equipment around? Even to a wedding its a bit over kill. I'm not sure what to use the ma200 for other than a shoulder rest. I'm going to shoot a wedding in a few weeks anyone have any tips?

Re: small transmitter
 

<<<-- People talk about these lapel mikes, are those basically connected to the cigarette pack or are they also the transmitter? -->>>

The lapel mic (lavalier) plugs into the "cigarette pack" (transmitter) and most transmitters are about the same size. Also, most transmitters can accept a variety of mics plugged into it, like the guitar pickup, headband mic (such as worn by Garth Brooks, Britney Spears and dance instructors) or the more common lavalier clipped to the lapel or shirt collar. I would probably stick to that format. For shooting a wedding, I can see little practical benefit from using anything more than one or possibly two external mics, you can save the Mackie for shooting concerts or stage shows, IMHO.

Most of my event and corporate video is miked with one lavalier, and I rarely even use the native audio tracks for the B-roll footage I shoot, choosing instead to use the narration/interview/voiceover assoicated with the talk roll or just mixing in music in the edit/post-production process.

Nathan, I'm looking to buy the Sennheiser EW112P wireless system. In your opinion, how do you rate the ME-2 lav. mic? I am not familiar with it. I plan on using it it a wide variety of setups, indoors and outdoors, quiet and noisy.

I was contemplating going with the Sennheiser MKE-2 Gold or Sony ECM-77 hard wire lavs because of their superior sound quality, but for the same price and being given the freedom of wireless, I'm now contemplating the EW112P system.

I use the ME -2 Lav mic. It is a great mic! It is an omni - it will pick up the groom, bride and pastor very clearly. The groom will always be a little more bassy because of the chest cavity pick-up but that can be corrected in post.

I plan on getting the ME-4 uni-directional soon - but for different uses than the wedding vows.

Sorry this is late but my wife has just found out how much fun it is to shop on eBay ;)

Thanks for the response on the ME-2. I placed the order for the EW112P and will get it in about a week!

Guy,

when you have given it the once over drop me an e-mail please a let me know what you think of it. I too am looking at purchasing the EWP 112.

Andrew

Wireless Mic
 

"The general advice is to stick to UHF units, but they cost 2-3 times as much as VHF units. If you are trying to save dollars get a Nady VHF wireless: they are probably the best buy."

Does anyone know if you can hook a Nady wireless up to the RCA audio inputs on the XL1? It appears the only way is to use the headphone output of the Nady receiver as a line out to the camera. Will this work, or is there another way?

Other mics work fine with EW112P
 

I have used Radio Shack lavs and Shure hand mics without any problems. The standard omni mic that comes with the unit is pretty good and works quite well.

>>"Does anyone know if you can hook a Nady wireless up to the RCA audio inputs on the XL1?"<<
Steve, have you tried unplugging the on-camera mic and conecting the Nady to that input? I know it's mini** on that end and probably 1/4" phone jack on the Nady end, but that's just a cabling question. The RCAs on the XL1 are looking for something a bit more amplified than mic-level signals, such as if you were to run the signal through a Canon MA100 mic adapter.

**actually, stereo mini, but don't sweat the small stuff.

Thanks Mike. As suggested in another thread, I was hoping to use the camera mike and simultaneosly record through the wireless lav onto audio 2 through the RCA jacks. I don't have an MA 100, but perhaps it's time I considered getting one.

I threw away my Azden WR-22 system (yes...threw it away) and purchased the following setup:

3- Azden 311-LT True Diversity Table Top receivers with lapel mics and rack mount brackets @ $215 each
1- Gemini Power Conditioner @ $59.95
1- Behringer MX602A Mixer @ $59.95
1- Raxxess 3 Space Slider Drawer @ $69.95
1- Gator Rack Mount Case @ $89.00

I divided the drawer into 2 sections using a piece of plywood. The mixer is on 1 side and all my mics, cabling, batteries are kept in the other side. Whenever I do a wedding, I simply place the Gator case on a table in the rear of the church, wire the audio into Camera 2, and have yet to get any static. My mics are placed on the Groom, the Priest, and the podium where the readings are being read.

You Threw Away your WR-22??
what the hell... some of us are dirt poor and need a decent mic. You should have given it to me!

Well, I didn't throw mine away, but my Azden WR22 system hasn't left the pile on the desk since I got my Sennheiser ENG kit. No more static and dropouts! It's not diversity but it is UHF, and the working distance is incredible.

Further to the accolades of the sennheiser eng kit: When purchased with the plug on transmitter as well as the lav pak., this is just the thing for weddings. You have the needed lav for the groom and then later, with the lav switched off, you have the wireless transmitter to plug into your favorite shure 58 or equivalent to capture the drunken diatribes from the collection of heathens that the poor slob is marrying into. Often, the single brother of the groom provides the most interesting content.

Sorry for slightly straying off topic during the preceding two sentances.

Sennhiser makes a nice kit.

Yes, you are seeing the reasons why people recommend the Evolution 100 kit: it works very well.

[No longer live in San Antonio, back @ home now]

Maybe a bit OT, Jimmy Mc, but funny! (and true) I'm lovin' the ENG kit, even use it now for SR (sound reinforcement), plugging it into my Mackie 1402vlz, only wish the rcver was not battery-only powered.

Not that I trust my Azden WMS-pro setup very much but with time it is actually working better. As more and more people switch to UHF mics the crowded VHF space is starting to clear up. It still isn't perfect but it is much better than it was a few years ago. I shoot a show for a cable station and I hook up my Azden as a backup in case the audio board croaks or the dude running it pulls a moron move(Which they have done). I have shot over 20 episodes and I never once got a single blip of static from the azden mic which was a big surprise because 5 years ago I couldn't go 5 minutes without some sort of static. I never used the thing for this purpose and just worte it off as a big waste of money. It still isn't a great mic but at least it isn't a waste of money anymore. I think they are great backup mics for the price.

Is it overcrowding of VHF channels, or just poor radio signal transmission on the part of my Azden? I suspect the latter, because there hasn't been any change in the number (0) of competing transmitters in most of the venues I have used the Azdens at (i.e. no other wireless mics in operation and unlikely any other intentional transmitting sources in that frequency range--there haven't been any other videographers impinging on my channels or leaving them to go UHF) as far as I can tell. Other sources of RFI have appeared to be the culprit in my case... electrical motors, lights, computers and their peripherals, and the like. Along with just plain old signal dropout from the transmitter.

Actually I had really good results on the VHF band with my Shure systems with the Marcad true diversity receivers...real pro quality. Nice strong signal with user-friendly adjustments including frequency agility. Only thing is they are limited to stationary shoots because the receivers are half-rack size and mains-powered. Not very handy for the roving cameraman. :-)

I actually take back wht I just said about the Azden WMS-pro mics. I just used them as backup for two different shoots this weekend and I ended up getting a crap load of static and problems. When these stupid things work they are ok. The problem is you never know if they are going to be ok. Get a UHF mic you will be much better off. Not to say that VHF isn't good. Some of the most expensive lectrosoinc mics that cost thousands of dollars are VHF. Azden just has a poor way of using VHF.

Exactly! I just got sick of hoping mine wouldn't suddenly pick up a load of sizzling and fizzing for no apparent reason right when someone was saying something important (you should see the creative editing I had to try then). Never had that happen on my Shure VHFs. Or the Senn UHFs.